• Last updated 10/17/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Patricia G. Blomme Issue 129 March/April 2005 I have been blessed in my lifetime—I have had the pleasure of placing five children to my breast. That singular term, breast, is very accurate. Four of my children have benefited from my having nursed them to the best of my abilities as long as I could.  My breastfeeding tale is fairly unremarkable compared to those of other breastfeeding mothers, who have tried and, with difficulty and lack of knowledge, eventually succeeded in fully nourishing their babies at their breasts. My situation is different—I am a unilateral... read more

• Last updated 3/13/13 by Marcy Axness

Author Ray Bradbury pointed out, chillingly, "You don't need to burn books to destroy a culture -- just get people to stop reading them." Similarly, you don't need to actually ban nursing to decrease the incidence of breastfeeding -- just make it more and more difficult to do.   The ways our culture makes breastfeeding ever more difficult range from the insidiously subtle (hospitals' goody-bag full of formula) to the outrageously overt (Bill Maher's infamous rant equating breastfeeding -- "a private thing" -- with "farting or masturbating or... read more

• Last updated 5/2/13 by Cynthia Mosher

  Looking for information about cosleeping? We've got a great list here for you!    Click here for a list of Mothering Magazine on-line articles about co-sleeping, the Family Bed and related topics. Get started with this great article by Mothering's founder: Sleeping With Your Baby by Peggy O'Mara   Basic Instinct A dad can do so much more than defend the cave. New research shows that he too has the biological goods to nurture baby http://www.todaysparent.com/lifeaspa...1225399&page=1 Children Need Touching and Attention, Harvard... read more

• Last updated 3/6/13 by JenniO11

brought to us by Tummy Calm   Parents are often told by their pediatricians to give their children gas drops to help relieve tummy aches, ease fussiness, alleviate painful bloating, gas pains and even excessive spitting up. But knowing which to give and when to give them can be confusing.   The information below may help you decide what is right for your family, explaining what different formulas are available, and also give you other ideas for treating your little ones’ tummy troubles.   Gas Drops Explained Gas drops are an over-the-counter... read more

• Last updated 4/5/12 by Mothering Editorial

By Liz Laing Issue 133, November/December 2005 Acne Treatment and Facial Cleanser Wash face with a mild soap, rinse, and gently pat a breastmilk-saturated ball of cotton (not a synthetic material) over the entire face. This process is great for removing eye makeup as well. Burns and Sunburn Apply breastmilk gingerly to burns and they will dry up and look much better the next day. A burn treated with breastmilk and mashed-up blueberries will dry up within an hour, wrote one mom on a Midwifery Today online forum.1 Elena Michaels, PhD, CCH, LMFT, a traditional... read more

• Last updated 5/3/13 by JenniO11

brought to us by Mothering sponsor Boba   Thoughtful Design Bests Babywearing Challenges It’s no secret that babywearing is the most natural choice for baby’s physical, emotional, and social development—but that doesn’t mean it always comes naturally. When choosing a baby carrier, it’s important to understand what growing babies need and how you can best support them.    Unfortunately, some baby carrier manufacturers have not thought through babies physiological development, and their poor designs can have unintended consequences. Luckily, carriers like... read more

• Last updated 12/8/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Valerie Barrios Cagle Issue 136 - May/June 2006 I was 24 the first time I was attacked for nursing my baby in public. Waiting in line to board a cable car in Stone Mountain Park, Georgia, I absentmindedly held my daughter to my breast while I stood chatting with a friend. Seemingly from nowhere, the irate face of a woman materialized inches from my own. Loud enough for everyone on top of the mountain to hear, she shouted, “Could you please go do that somewhere else, because my husband does not need to see that!” I looked at her, aghast. I hadn’t meant anyone any... read more

• Last updated 10/30/12 by Melanie Mayo

By Brian Leaf     Before I was a parent, I was a yoga retreat addict. You could find me at The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health or at The Omega Institute, or certainly at a yoga class downtown. But, now, I'm happy to get ten minutes of sun salutations with my boys on a weekend.   According to Jessica Berger Gross in her Yoga Journal blog, Enlightened Motherhood, I am not alone. She writes, "Once upon a time, in a distant far off galaxy known as the time before I became a mother, I used to occasionally save up and attend personal retreats—studying yoga... read more

• Last updated 6/26/12 by Mothering Editorial

By Sundae HornIssue 109, November/December 2001 Recently I read a sweet little how-to article about nursing discreetly in public. It offered all manner of well-meaning and socially acceptable advice, the gist of which was to make sure the breast never sees the light of day. The key to success is keeping covered. If all is done carefully, the article suggested, no one except mother and baby need know that breastfeeding is taking place. This seemingly reasonable advice is offensive to me. I want people to know that breastfeeding is happening. I'm proud to say I have... read more

• Last updated 12/19/12 by SKValenzuela

By S.K. Valenzuela     As parents, so much of what we do involves paddling against the current. We routinely thwart our children's wishes when it's in their best interest for us to do so, and we weather the consequences of their displeasure. We push back against influences in the culture around us--influences we perceive as harmful or negative or just plain wrong.  Often struggling to be a good parent is just that: a struggle.  But there are times when going with the flow is exactly what's required.     Taking a baby-led approach to caring for your infant... read more